Government Accountability

What can we cut?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 5, 2008

An anonymous poster to GrassrootsPA defends the recently enacted state budget against criticism from the Commonwealth Foundation, along with that in other comments. The budget…

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Regulation

Smoking bans and individual rights

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 16, 2008

Given the title, and the link from GrassrootsPA, I expected Eric Heyl’s column on the smoking ban to be a good read. Needless to say, I was disappointed.

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Regulation

Smoking Bans Ain’t Cool, Unless You’re a Fool

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 4, 2008

The conference committee on banning private businesses’ right to allow smoking in their establishments has finally reported a bill. GrassrootsPA has the news roundup. I have written on this…

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Abolish the Turnpike Commission?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 3, 2008

Rock the Capital has a new report looking at the history, efficiency, and corruption of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, raising the question of whether there is any need for…

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Regulation

Smoke Freedom Day II

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 29, 2008

CBS 21 has a video of “Smoke Freedom Day” protest in Harrisburg. That’s me in the video, absorbing second-hand smoke to make a political statement, like Sam Adams.

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Government Accountability

“Per Diems” Add Up

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 9, 2008

RocktheCapital has analyzed and released expense reports for one lawmaker, David Argall of Schuykill County, finding that he collected $15,000 in “per diems” (compensation above and beyond salary, ostensibly…

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Government Accountability

Why the capital budget process needs to be reformed

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 4, 2008

Here is a response I posted on GrassrootsPA to the defenders of the $13 billion in capital budget projects who state essentially “It isn’t that bad, because not all…

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State Budget

$13 Billion capital budget flies under radar

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 3, 2008

The $12.7 billion in borrowing for the state Capital Budget has become a hot topic on GrassrootsPA. Otherwise, it has merited a blurb in the Patriot News, and…

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Taxes & Economy

Rendell pleads for more spending

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 27, 2008

Tony Phyrillas comments on Governor Rendell’s latest plea for legislators to borrow, tax, and spend more. Rendell claims that for a few dollars more, he can fix all our…

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